A normal pre-budget process would see cabinet ministers write to the finance minister with requests for their departments and the need for funding various projects under their portfolio. But for this budget cycle, ministers are being asked for a progress report made directly to the prime minister.
Carney’s mandate letter differs from previous prime ministers in that ministers did not get unique ones; rather, Carney sent one letter to the entirety of cabinet. Seven priorities were outlined, including “building one Canadian economy,” and “bringing down costs for Canadians.”
Sources say some ministers are unaccustomed to this type of “report card” metric and are worried about the appearance of a lack of progress, and what implications that may have for their department in the budget, describing the process as “more than a little chaotic.”
Two sources close to ministers tell CTV News some staff are “panicked,” and there is a widespread sentiment that this kind of practice is further evidence of the prime minister running government like a CEO.
4 Comments
West_of_West@piefed.social · 12 pts · 3d
I love the idea of politicians panicking when asked to prove how they've helped Canadians.
Arcanepotato@crazypeople.online · 5 pts · 3d
It was really interesting to see this perspective. I'm morbidly curious about what the angle is here lol.
rabber@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 3d
Carney is a smart guy. Fire and publicly shame the ones who do nothing and replace them with floor crossers. Carney libs are just the rebranded Harper gov anyway.
RadiallyAxiomatic@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 3d
If I were the boss here the first one would be to let people know this is the new normal, but I probably wouldn't fire anyone or do much shuffling as a result of the first round, but otherwise conduct the process very seriously. Well, that's what I'd want to do, but I have a lot of trouble with the word 'serious' and other such words that serious people hold court with.
I'd expect that someone like Carney will, at minimum, make an example of someone to put the fear into the others. That's what TV and movie logic says to do anyway. I guess we'll find out if he is a movie guy soon.